Let’s design stunning stationery

Custom stationery speaks volumes about your client. As a designer, you have a lot of tools to bring their style to life. Here’s how to deliver a design they’ll love.

by CogitoDesigns

Your client just ordered stationery (score!) but you’ve got some questions. Have no fear, 99designs is here. Read on for specifications, design do’s & dont’s, and a glossary of design terms. It’s everything you’ll need to hand-off an awesome design.

Talk to your client first

Designing stationery is usually pretty standard, but there's still a few important questions you need to ask your client before getting started.

The pre-design checklist

Does your client have a brand or style guide?Talk to your client beforehand to see if they have a brand or style guide. This will help ensure you’re staying consistent with their company’s brand elements like logo, colors and typeface.

Does your client want a specialty printing technique or finish?Ask if your client’s printing budget allows for advanced techniques like embossing, foil blocking or die-cutting before adding them into design.

Will this design be printed by a personal or a commercial printer?Ask client if they're printing themselves or at a commercial printer. Don’t use borders unless the letterhead will be professionally printed.

Will this design be printed on a special type of paper?If it is, you may need to adjust your design to work with that type of surface.

What type of stationery is it?Confirm size and specifications for each piece before you start designing (standard sizes are listed below)

Size and specifications

Yes, “sizes and shapes may vary,” but standard stationery can still stand out. The most common sizes are slightly different for printers in America and the rest of the world.

Follow these specifications to ensure your letterhead and envelope designs print correctly. But if your client wants a special shape, you’ll need to request specifications directly from them.